Redd Weighing Option To Leave Penn State

July 24, 2012|Staff Report, The Hartford Courant

NORWALK — There is much speculation surrounding Penn State football players. Will they stay or will they go?

The NCAA announced unprecedented sanctions on Monday against Penn State University, including a $60 million fine, four-year postseason ban and loss of 20 scholarships each year for four years in the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. It also announced that players could transfer and play immediately.

Junior tailback Silas Redd, who rushed for 1,241 yards in 2011 en route to second-team all-Big Ten honors, is one such player with a big decision. His brother told FOX CT on Monday night that Silas was weighing his options.

"Going to continue to weigh options and figure out what's best for the program, and Silas is going to figure out what's best for him with the program," Mike Redd said. "The student-athletes will have to make a decision going forward whether or not it's best for them to stick around or leave, and I think everyone feels a loyalty to the school."

Rumors circulated Monday that USC had interest in Redd, but when reached Tuesday morning by The Courant, Silas Redd's father said, "Silas Redd is a Penn State student-athlete, period."

Another source told The Courant that it was his understanding that Redd was staying.

UConn, like other schools, is interested in Penn State players. Junior linebacker Khairi Fortt of Stamford and freshman wide receiver Malik Golden of Newington are two other state players on the Penn State roster, and there have been contacts between Fortt, Golden and UConn, according to a source.

The sanctions place players in a potential bind, without the opportunity to compete for a national championship or even play in lesser bowl games. Mike Redd said that Sandusky's victims should come first, but did question the equity of the NCAA's ruling.

"It's such a complex situation, and so is there a right way to sanction these things?" Mike Redd said. "I don't know, I'm not the guy there, but the NCAA felt they did what they had to do; Penn State signed off on it."

Silas Redd was on campus Monday as the penalties were announced but did not comment on the announcement or his future at Penn State. Mike Redd told FOX CT that Silas has wanted to be a Penn State football player since he was a boy and admired the team's slogan, "Success With Honor."

Mike Redd, who, like Silas, played high school football at Stamford's King Low Heywood Thomas, said that his brother sends his prayers out to the victims and everyone involved who's been hurt.

"Football, at the end of the day, is not as important when it comes to child abuse and things like that, but there are people's lives hanging in the balance, and kids who have nothing to do with the decision-making of a few," Mike Redd said.

Beau Berman of FOX CT and Desmond Conner of The Courant contributed to this story.